Children exploited by drug addict parents

ALOR STAR,. A MOTHER was found to have used her two-month-old baby for money to satisfy her drug addiction.

This was revealed during a joint operation under the National Blue Ocean Strategy with the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada), police and the state Education and Welfare Departments.

A state Welfare Department spokesman said drug addicts had been using children to get cash. Some mothers even drugged their children to get them to
do what they wanted, resulting in children becoming addicts.

He said in just three months, the department had rescued 11 children, aged between 2 months and 13 years, who were neglected by their drug addict parents.

He said it was unfortunate that the children did not get the opportunity to go to school.

“Some of them are neglected, while others are homeless. The department has rescued 11 children since we started the operation last year.

“The children are being cared for by their relatives,” he told the New Straits Times.

He said the department rescued five siblings, including a 2-month-old baby, during a raid in Kota Sarang Semut here last November.

He added that of the five, an 11-year-old tested positive for drugs and had drug supplies on him, believed to belong to his parents.

“Nada officers had detained the parents. But, they continue to use their children to gain people’s sympathy. The five children are under their aunt’s care after receiving a temporary order under Section 19(2) of the Child Act (Amendment) 2016.”

He said four siblings, aged between 3 and 9, were found in a dilapidated house, while their father was busy taking drugs at a neighbour’s house, during another operation in Simpang Kuala near here.

He said the children’s parents were being monitored by Nada.

“We rescued two children aged 5 and 12 in the latest raid. They were living on the streets with their drug addict mother.

“Investigations showed that the elder sibling stopped going to school at 10.

“Both the children have been referred to the hospital.”

He said the department would continue to rescue the neglected children of drug addicts.